Already have my bags packed for my early morning flight to Cincinnati for the Steampunk Empire Symposium. My schedule is under the cut — hope to see some of you guys there!

I’ll also be on tumblr and twitter throughout the event, so you can follow me there!

SATURDAY

12 PM — Salon B

Steam Around the World: Steampunk Beyond VictorianaAy-leen the Peacemaker
Beyond Victoriana, what steampunk possibilities exist? Come join us as we take you on a trip around the world to see how steampunk manifests in the minds of those who don’t think within an Eurocentric context, whether they blend Western influences, or use recognizably steampunk elements within a distinct flavor outside of Europe. We will also approach the ethical challenges that come up when engaging in multicultural steampunk and discuss matters of race, privilege, and cultural appropriation.

4 PM — Salon C & D

Steampunk Reader’s Choice AwardsI’ll be making an appearance there and be representing several others who could not make it to the ceremony. Plus, I have a sekrit video up my sleeve from Lucretia Dearfour herself — if you have been following her antics impersonating other steampunks during the past few weeks, you’ll be in for a treat!

5PM – Salon B

Envisioning a Better Steam Society: Social Issues & SteampunkAy-leen the Peacemaker
A discussion panel where panel participants discuss their thoughts about finding aesthetic inspiration in a historical era rife with sexism, racism and classist thinking. Can the steampunk subculture come to terms with its problematic past, or are we just repeating history, except with ray guns? Together with the audience, we hope to engage in an open dialogue about whether steampunk confronts or condones the historical ideas behind its inspiration, how nineteenth century thinking is re-interpreted in the present day, and what makes steampunk actually “punk.”

7PM — Salon B

Minority Groups and Alternative CulturesAy-leen the Peacemaker
This panel is aimed at encouraging honest and open discussion of ethnic tensions, cultural differences, and incidents of racism in alternative subculture spaces. With the audience, we will talk about why minority groups may shy away from alternative-culture groups and events, any relevant examples of causes that you might wish to share, either in observation or as a minority, and about how these differences can be resolved in order to create a safe space for ALL people present in these types of groups or events.

SUNDAY

1PM — Salon B

LGBTQ in Science Fiction and FantasyAy-leen the Peacemaker
In recent years, queer characters are becoming more prevalent in science fiction and fantasy, but we still have a long way to go. This panel will take a brief look at the history of LGBTQ characters in science fiction & fantasy, and what we can do to further promote fair and diverse representation of queer folk in SF/F.

About Beyond Victoriana

The Nutshell ExplanationBeyond Victoriana is the oldest-running blog about multicultural steampunk and retro-futurism--that is, steampunk outside of a Western-dominant, Eurocentric framework. Founded in 2009, Beyond Victoriana focuses on non-Western cultures, underrepresented minorities in Western histories (Asian / Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, First Nation, Hispanic, black / African & other marginalized identities), and the cultural intersection between the West and the non-West.